A Catholic Blog
A priest writing reflections on theology, philosophy, and Catholicism. I'll occasionaly write movie reviews, rants, and discussion topics. I write from my experiences, personal and intellectual, for my benefit and yours (should you get any from it). None of what I write is official or representative of my diocese or parish, just my semi-public attempt at figuring things out and sharing it with you for the sake of dialogue.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

It’s hard to imagine that our minds have not been drawn to the events
in Orlando recently, where yet another act of violence and barbarism has
invaded our own consciousness. One is reminded, as if by an unfortunate
muscular reaction Sandusky, Virginia Tech, Belgium, Spain, Iraq, Afganistan,
and Syria. Acts such as these, and many others, show a world torn by strife,
division, and sin. Many of our esteemed brethren have spoken out against such
violence, and we commend them. Violence against homosexuals, Muslims,
Christians, or anyone is to be deplored as ungodly and abominable. It stands
that we, as Christians, ought to look for God earnestly and listen to him attentively.

The Bishop of St.
Petersburg, Robert Lynch, had said that, “sadly it is religion, including our
own, which targets, mostly verbally, and also often breeds contempt for gays,
lesbians and transgender people. Attacks today on LGBT men and women often
plant the seed of contempt, then hatred, which can ultimately lead to
violence.” He adds, “Those women and men who were mowed down … were all made in
the image and likeness of God.” In some senses, it is true. When someone is
gay, he or she is part of the “gay community” just as someone who is poor is
part of “low society” and so on. We emphasize our differences, many times apart
from charity, but rather out of exclusion.

Scripture has fittingly placed before us an
appropriate message:

For as many of you as were baptized into
Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ
Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs
according to promise. (Gal 3:26-29). [cf., 12th Sunday, OT, Year C]

For Christians there
are no divisions so wide that Christ has not redeemed them. All have sinned and
thus all need Christ to reconcile them. We who follow Him must never forget
that our faith, and the healing we have received as a result, is God’s gift,
ever and always. What we have been given, we are called to give. Christ is the
light of the world, shining in the darkness (cf., Jn 1:5). We too have been
called into this marvelous light to live as children of the light (cf., 1 Thes
5:5, Eph 5:8). What is this light? That light is the peace, love, and grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel, my brothers and sisters, demands
much from us. We are called to admonish sin, but be patient with sinners. We
are called to love our neighbor, but love our enemy as well. We are called endure
persecution for the sake of righteousness, all the while giving glory to God.
No one is exempt from this calling among us, and all of us are called to build
each other up in love. There is a gay person in our midst who is more virtuous
in regard to chastity than any of us, there is a wealthy person in our midst
who outshines all in humility, and there is one who is sick among us who
outshines us in true, Christian love.

Stature, orientation, health, or age does not
impede us from living the gospel. Our own strengths and weaknesses simply mean
that the Gospel demands different things from us daily, and together our love
for God, and His love for us, makes us one. No one is impeded, no one is
exempt. In short, “pick up your cross daily, and follow me” (Lk 9:23).

This mass, and this day, let us first pray as
David does in the psalms, “Who can discern his errors? Clear me of hidden
faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have
dominion over me!” (Ps 19:12-13). Then, let us pray for those affected by
violence, resolving in our own lives to be Christ’s peace in the world. Lastly,
as we celebrate this Eucharist, we pray: “May this Sacrifice of our
reconciliation … advance the peace and salvation of all the world (EP III, §113) …That in a world torn by strife, your
people may shine forth as a prophetic sign of unity and concord” (EP V1, §7).